Minnesota man convicted in teen's drug overdose death

Red Wing, MN (KROC-AM News) – A Minnesota man has been convicted of a teenager's drug overdose.

The Red Wing man reached a plea deal in March, just days before his murder trial was scheduled to begin.

The criminal complaint accuses DeShawn Lee Smith, 46 supplying the counterfeit M30 pills that were ingested by a 14-year-old boy just before he died from the toxic effects of fentanyl in January 2020.

The criminal complaint says the teen was found unconscious in his bedroom at the family's Red Wing home by his father, who also found a fragment of an M30 blue pill.

The court document says Red Wing police previously had contact with the teenage victim while investigating drug deals taking place at an apartment complex.

The boy told investigators he bought drugs from two 14-year-old boys who attended Red Wing High School.

The charges against Smith say one of the teenage drug dealers later identified Smith as his supplier. The court document also states that Smith was the boyfriend of the mother of one of the suspected drug dealers at the high school.

Smith pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and second-degree drug sales. In exchange, Goodhue County prosecutors dropped a third-degree murder charge and two other misdemeanor drug charges.

On Friday, Smith had the chance to avoid prison when a Goodhue County judge sentenced him to consecutive five-year suspended prison terms on each count. He was ordered to serve a year in the Goodhue County Jail and is expected to be released next February.

Smith was granted a downward departure at the sentencing hearing. The court document says Smith showed remorse and accepted responsibility. The victim's family and the prosecutor also agreed to a lighter sentence.

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